Friday, November 11, 2011

SEA GAMES: Esther Optimistic Bowling Squad Will Be Able To Repeat Korat Performance

JAKARTA, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Athough suffering an unexpected injury, national bowler Esther Cheah is optimistic that Malaysia's bowlers will be able to repeat their sterling performance at the Korat SEA Games in 2007 when they brought home four gold medals.

She suffered an ankle injury after falling down from the team bus when it arrived at the team's training venue at the Jaya Ancol bowling centre here.

"I am still being treated by doctors from the National Sports Institute and have been advised to temporarily rest for faster recovery. I should be up and about in two days time," she said when met at the bowling centre today.

Esther slipped and fell after her foot got caught in a loose rubber lining of the bus' doors while disembarking.

She would have suffered more serious injuries but was lucky that team coach B.C Cheah, who had already disembarked from the bus, helped to break her fall.

Hopes are high on Esther and teammates to bring back at least two gold medals in the bowling competion in this year's SEA Games which is being hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, Sumatera.

Bowling was not offered at the last SEA Games in Laos two years ago.

Esther has won four gold medals in the SEA Games thus far, in the women's team competition at the Manila Games in 2005 and the others at the Korat Games, in the doubles, trios and team events.

Meanwhile, Cheah said the squad would still do well even if Esther did not recover in time.

"We can call up our back up bowlers from Kuala Lumpur at anytime if Esther is unable to compete," he said.